Suspect with record faces meth charges

A man with a drug-tarnished past is back in the Jackson County Jail for allegedly selling methamphetamine at a house near New Dimension Christian School on North Oakdale Avenue, police reported.

By RYAN PFEIL

A man with a drug-tarnished past is back in the Jackson County Jail for allegedly selling methamphetamine at a house near New Dimension Christian School on North Oakdale Avenue, police reported.

John Michael Gibson, 38, who was staying at a house in the first block of North Peach Street in Medford, was held in jail Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, manufacture and delivery of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school and first-degree child neglect. His bail was set at more than $1 million, jail records show.

"In this case, we're alleging sales were going out of the house," said Lt. Brett Johnson with the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement — MADGE — Team.

Gibson's 2-year-old son, who lived with him, was placed with other family members, police said.

MADGE officers served a search warrant for Gibson at the North Peach Street address Tuesday morning. Police found half an ounce of methamphetamine, an ounce of marijuana, packaging, scales and $219 in cash, which police believe to be proceeds from drug trafficking.

Police also found a Diamondback bicycle that had been reported stolen in Talent. The date of the reported theft was not available Tuesday.

Gibson lived with a couple, 31-year-old Vincent Lewis Brennan Jr. and 28-year-old Barbara Beth Westergaard. Their 7-year-old daughter also lived at the home. Police found a small amount of methamphetamine tied to Westergaard and Brennan.

Police cited them for possession of methamphetamine and first-degree child neglect, but the couple retained custody of the girl after being connected with parenting resources, police said. Neither appear to have any criminal history in Jackson County, court records show.

"We believe they had some level of knowledge of his activities," he said, adding drug dealers are often on the move, drifting from home to home and subletting as they go.

Records show that Gibson has felony convictions on drug, theft and firearm charges in Jackson County going back to 1993.

"He's well-known to the law enforcement community, and especially the drug investigators," Johnson said. "Nothing unusual with having a case on him."